Rail anchor



June 14, i949. F.' A. PRESTON 2,473,345

' RAIL ANCHOR Filed Dec. 7, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 14, 1949. F. A.:PRESTON I v 2,473,345

RAIL ANC y 2f l Q June14,1949.' F. AYP-RESTON n 2,473,345

RAIL ANCHOR l Filed nec. 7, 1944v s Sheng-sheets i www 4 IN VEN TOR.

Patented June 14, 1949 f RAIL ANCHOR '1' Frederick A.Preston, LakeForest, Ill., assignor, byvmesne`v assignments, to Poor & Company,

Chicago, Ill., a corporation lof Delaware applricatiadnineeeniber 7,A1944,seria1No. 566,977 molaims. (Cl. 23S-327) This inventionl relatesto 'certainfnew anduseful improvements in railanchors of the generaltype adapted to grip the base portion of a rallroad rail in a positionto abut against a vertical face of a crosstie.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide an improvedrail anchor of the above general type which includes a body having ahorizontal web to provide rail gripping surfaces of a desired width andwith a vertical flange which, in addition to providing the desiredstrength to effect a strong resilient grip on the rail base, alsoprovides the anchor with a tie-abutting portion of large area adapted toengage a vertical face of the crosstie at a substantial distance belowYthe bottom surface of the rail base.

Another object of the invention is to provide a rail anchor device ofthe above gen-eral type in which the cross-sectional configuration ofthe anchor is such that it can be readily formed either as a die-forgingor may be made from pre-formed blanks by bending the'blank around asuitable die having the desired contour.

A further object is to provide ananchor of the above character in whichthe 'vertical ange of the anchor is relatively wide and is offsetlaterally relative to the horizontal web so that the said vertical ange.will be provided with an angular reinforcement which will resist thebending strains imposed on the said flange when its lower portion ispressed against a vertical face of the crosstie at a substantialdistance belowthe bottom surface of the rail base. In this connectionthe invention also contemplates the provision of a vertical flangehaving such angular configuration in cross-section that theV flange,when the anchor is formed, provides al dished or rim-like reinforcementwhich extends around the hooked end of the anchor device.

A further object of the invention is to provide a rail anchor devicehaving a cross-sectional configuration which will permit the anchordevice to be made relatively light but which at the same time Willprovide maximum strength. In this connection the invention contemplatesa rail anchor device having such cross-sectional configuration that itcan be readily formed by dieforging, or by a simplified methodin whichit may be formed by bending a channel bar of the desired cross-sectionaround the suitable die.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom-the detailed description of the specic devices/shown -in theaccompanying drawings, wherein: Y y 1 .Fia 1 is a plan view; 0faafragmentarportionof the rail base 2 of a railroad rail and itssupporting structure, togetherv with a rail anchor device constructedinaccordance with this invention applied to the basev portion of the rail.

Fig. 2 is a face view in elevation `of anchor device shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an end view inv elevation illustrating the-construction of thejaw end of the anchor shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectionalview taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction indicated bythe arrows.

'Fig 5 is a plan view illustrating a modified the rail form of anchordevice; and

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view takerron'r line 6-'6 of Fig. 5 andlooking lin the direction indi'- cated by the arrows.

Referring first to Figs. l to 4 inclusive ofv the drawings: Afragmentary base'portio'n ofthe railroad rail is designated by thereference number Ill. It is supported on a xed portion of the roadbedincluding an ordinary wooden tie II and preferably though notnecessarily a tie-plate'IZ interposed between the top surface ofthecrosstie and the bottom surface of the rail basel. The rail may beheld in proper position; by any suitable means. For example, rail spikesI3. rI Jhe rail anchor device illustrated in said Figs. -1 to 4inclusive of the drawings includes a body portion I4 which is preferablychannel-shaped in crosssection. One end of the body lis provided with ahook portion designated generally by thel reference numeral I5, whichoverlies and bears against the inclined upper surface of one base flangeof the rail. Preferably the space between the said hook I5 and the topface of the body I4 is such that these portions are spread apartslightly when the said hook is driven upon the rail base ange. The saidhook portion I5 is also preferably so formed as to provide a substantialclearancedesignated I6 between the edge portion of the rail base andtheanchor device so that the engage*- ment of the said hook I5 with the topsurfaceiof the rail base is confined to an area spaced inwardly from theedge of the rail base. Consequently, the pressure exerted by thesaid'hook I5-on the top surface of the rail base tendslto turn theanchor device about the point.l Il to force the anchor body into firmgripping contact with the bottom surface of the rail base.- The otherend of the anchor body is formed preferably with an olfset portion I8 toIprovide a; shoulder adapted to snap up over the lower corner portion tolock the anchor device onfthe The anchor device is of channel-shape inthe cross-section and the vertical flanges of the channel are so shapedas to simplify the manufacture of the device and to also provide theadditional strength and rigidity which is necessary to withstand thesevere strains imposed on devices f this character when the tie-abuttingportion of the device is so positioned as to engage a crosstie I l onlyat a substantial distance below the bottom surface of the rail base.According to the present invention, the portion of the anchor body whichgrips the bottom surface of the rail base isapproximately one inch inWidth` and the tie-abutting portion of the device, to-Wit, a dependingflange I9 of the channel, may be considerably Wider than the horizontalweb. In-many situations it is necessary to provide theanchor; devicewith a relatively deep tie-abutting portion to insure proper engagementwith the crosstie. For

example, when a tie-plate is interposed between u ,theztop surface ofthe tie and the bottomV surface of-the rail base or when a so-calledypoleitie, a

ltie having round corners, is used. In such -situations there is apronounced tendencyfor the .relatively wide tie-abuttingvflangetoeloendin a direction lengthwise of the rail as Va result of thewill resist these pressures and which will also :possess the otheradvantages hereinafter 4re- -ferr-ed to in connection withthefmanufactllreof the device, the vertical ilanges of the channelAanchor device herein shown are made of Aspecial shape. They arepreferably spreadapartnear their outer ends so that each ofthe saidflanges includes upper and lower perpendicular portions and 2l and anintervening incline portion :22.

:Each flange therefore has anangular configuration which will betterresist the vsaid *bending lstrains and thereby prevent the rail engagingbody yportion of the anchor from being crowded into :the space 23intervening between the rail 'base andthe curved corner portion of thecrosstie.

VThe special shape of the said `flanges I9-I9 also provide dishedconfigurations 2li- 2li in the opposite faces of the hook portion. Theseconfigurations of the reinforcing flanges lll-i9, because of the inclineportions Z2-212 thereof, provide I*highly effective resistance to anytendency which thepressures exerted on this anchor may have -to twistthe upper and lower portions of the hook out of vertical alignment witheach other .when

A fur- When channel bars having strains imposed on the outer portions ofthe Webs during the bending operation tends to force the webs laterallyrelative to thernain body ofthe channel bar. However, when the saidchannel `bar is initially formed with its vertical Webs olfset laterallyas shown herein, the said webs .will 4vretain substantially theirinitial contour during the bending operation.

Referring now to the modied embodiment shown in'Figs. 5 and 6. Theanchor device herein designated by the reference numeral 25, insteadvof'being of channel configuration as shown in lFigs. A1 to 4 inclusive,has a cross-sectional con- -guration in the form of angle bar. The hori--be formed from an initially formed angle bar by bending one end of theangle bar around a suitable die to form the hook-shaped jaw 28. Thelaterally offset configuration of the web 21, in the .-'modiedembodiment, functions to rigidify the anchor device as a Whole and makesit practicableas previously described, to form the an- -chor device-by`bending one end of the angle bar vinto-the hook form. The opposite endof the bar may `Vbe ,offset to provide a locking shoulder l8acorresponding to the locking shoulder I8 of the previous embodiment. Theother constructions shown in Figs. 5 and 6 corresponding to the similar.constructions of Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive are identiedbyjthe samereference numerals with the AI claim:

1. A rail anchor comprising a body. portion providedat one end with .ahook, which hook and `said body portion cooperate to provide upper andlower `jawsforgripping the top and'bottom surfaces, respectively, of onebase flange of a railroad railpthexsaid body portion includingahorizontal-Web which bears against the bottom sur- :face ofthe rail`and extends around the inner face ofthe'hooktoprovide the upper-j awwith a horizontal portion for gripping the top `surface of saidf-baseflange and a rigidifying flange extending around said'hook to reinforcethe hook and .depending from said horizontal web of thebody to provideabutting engagement with a rail sup- ;port1ng.structure; the said-rigidifying flange beingbentlaterally along its longitudinal centerportion 5to offset the outer marginal portion of the flange relative tosaid horizontal Web, whereby a reinforcing dishedconguration `isformed-in .said rigidifying flange at the hook end ofthe anchor andthevengagement of the anchor Awith fthe-rail supporting structure isconfined'to the .offset marginal portion of said rigidifyingflange.

2. A rail anchor comprising a body portion lprovided atone endwith ahook, which hook .and .said bodyportioncooperate to provide upperandlower .jawsffor gripping the top and bottom surfaces, respectively,of one base flange of a railroad rail; the said'body portion `yincludinga horizontal web which bears against the'bottom .surface of Vtherailandextendsaround the inner face-ofthe hook to provide theupper -jawwith ahorizontal portion forfgripping the'top surface .of saidbase flange-anda-rigidifying flange extending around `said Vhook -to reinforce the hookandvdepending from said horizontal web v'of the lbody toprovide abuttingengagement-Witharail Asupporting structure; Athe said rigidifying nangebeing i bent laterally along its longitudinal A center Aportion for thefull length thereof to Yoffset the -`outeiwmarginal portion of Atheflange relative to said horizontal-web, whereby a reinforcing dishedconfiguration` is formed in said rigidifying-flange .at the `hook vendofthe'anchor and the Aengage- `ment of the anchor with the rail supportingstructure is vconfined to the offset Ymarginal portion of saidrigidifying flange.

3. A frail anchor comprising a body portion provided-at one-end withahook, Vwhich hook and said body portion cooperate toV provide upperzontal web 26 thereof constitutes the body portion v'H5-and lower jawsfor vgripping the top and bottom surfaces, respectively, of one baseflange of a railroad rail; the said body including a horizontal webwhich 'bears against the bottom surfaces of the rail and extends aroundthe inner face of the hook to provide the upper jaw with a horizontalportion for gripping the top surface of said base ilange and a verticalrigidifying flange somewhat wider than said horizontal web extendingaround said hook to reinforce the same and depending from the horizontalweb of the body for abutting engagement with a rail supportingstructure; the said rigidifying flange being bent laterally throughoutits full length along its longitudinal center portion to offset theouter marginal portion of the ange relative to said horizontal web,whereby a reinforcing dished configuration is formed in said rigidifyingflange at the hook end of the anchor and the engagement of the anchorwith the rail supporting structure is confined to the oiset marginalportion of said rigidifying flange.

4. A rail anchor comprising a body portion provided at one end with ahook, which hook and said body portion cooperate to provide upper andlower jaws for gripping the top and bottom surfaces, respectively, ofone base ange of a railroad rail; the said body portion being ofinverted channel form including a, horizontal web for bearing againstthe bottom surfaces of the rail and extending around the inner face ofthe hook to provide the upper jaw with a horizontal web for gripping thetop surface of the rail base ange and a pair of vertical flangesextending lengthwise of the body and around said hook and having theirlongitudinal center portions bent laterally to offset their outermarginal portions relative to the edges of said horizontal web, wherebyeach of said horizontal flanges is provided With a reinforcing dishedconguration at the hook end of the anchor and the engagement of theanchor with the rail supporting structure is confined to the offsetmarginal portion of either vertical flange.

5. A rail anchor comprising a body portion provided at one end with ahook, which hook and said body portion cooperate to provide upper andlower jaws for gripping the top and bottom surfaces, respectively, ofone base flange of a railroad rail; the said body portion being ofinverted channel form including a horizontal web extending the fulllength of the body for bearing against the bottom surface of the railand extending around the inner face of the hook to provide the upper jawwith a horizontal web for gripping the top surface of the rail base:dange and a pair of vertical flanges extending the full 6 length of thebody and around said hook and having their longitudinal center portionsbent laterally throughout their length to offset their outer marginalportions relative to the edges of said horizontal web, whereby each ofsaid horizontal flanges is provided with a reinforcing dishedconfiguration at the hook end of the anchor and the engagement of theanchor with the rail supporting structure is confined to the offsetmarginal portion of either vertical flange.

6. A rail anchor formed from a blank of channel bar cross section havinga horizontal web and spaced apart vertical flanges and bent at one endinto hook form to provide upper and lower jaws for gripping the top andbottom surfaces of a base flange of a railroad rail at one side of therail and having a locking means at the other end for engagement with theedge of the other base flange of the rail; the vertical flanges of thechannel bar being somewhat wider than the horizontal web and beingoifset outwardly along their longitudinal center portions, whereby theportion of the channel at the outer edges of the said vertical flangesis substantially wider than the portion of the channel which liescontiguous to the horizontal web.

7. A rail anchor formed from a blank of channel bar cross section havinga horizontal web and spaced apart vertical flanges and bent at one endinto hook form to provide upper and lower jaws for gripping the top andbottom surfaces of a base flange of a railroad rail at one side of therail and having a locking means at the other end for engagement with theedge of the other base flange of the rail; the vertical flanges of thechannel bar being somewhat wider than the horizontal web and havingtheir outer edges spaced apart a greater distance than the width of theportion of the channel adjacent the horizontal web.

FREDERICK A. PRESTON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,700,775 Sampson Feb. 5, 19291,749,558 Barilli Mar. 4, 1930 2,244,755 Warr June 10, 1941 FOREIGNPATENTS Number Country Date 178,151 Switzerland Sept. 16, 1935 437,689Great Britain July 24, 1934

